& i love her still
even after she let me go
& she herself left long ago.
even though she went off the deep end,
after the War,
& started running around with
insufferable undesireables,
pushers & junkies,
pimps & hustlers.
even though she’s been selling herself
(and losing sleep in so doing)
to pay her junkie pimp boyfriend,
who beats her
(and still she won’t leave him).
Because i remember how beautiful
– & shining & enlightened & free –
she once was,
and i’m hoping she’ll come to her senses
and turn herself around,
get back on the right track again;
get her shit together
as i’ve offered to help her do.
yea, i still love her,
my America.
22 october 2000